From the pre-game ceremonies, all the way to the last pitch, I'll be live blogging this possible last game at Shea Stadium, and crucial game in the 2008 Mets season.
Stay right here for all things Mets today.
11:31 am :: And let the pre-game fun begin. Cue the epic music.
11:33 am :: Wow. What a crowd. I thought they were piping in the "Let's Go Mets!" chant. I was wrong.
11:43 am :: Love that Yogi is there. He's a party machine this week.
11:45 am :: No Hanley Ramirez for the Marlins. That is huge.
11:47 am :: I love Ralph Kiner and Yogi Berra. Put them in the booth today.
11:57 am :: Edgardo!!! Second base next year, Fonzi?
12:10 pm :: Wow. They're really pulling out all the stops. Robin Ventura!
Going live!!
9/28/08
Honestly, I'm already teary eyed [My Shea stadium farewell]
Yeah, I'm a sap.I literally just woke up, and I flipped on SNY. "45 Years of Shea" is on, and I'm already a little emotional.
There is not better way to send out Shea than this day. This day could mean it all for the Mets in 2008, but it will never be forgotten as Shea's possible goodbye.
It's a battle of present versus the past.
Do the Mets celebrate Shea in grand style, or do they focus on the task at hand and beat the Florida Marlins. Oliver Perez goes today, and he could cement his place in Mets history, and probably guarantee a big paycheck next season.
I'll miss Shea, there is no doubt. I first saw my first game against the Florida Marlins (how fitting) and my final game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
I have two favorite moments from Shea: One happened last season, and the other was this year.
May 16, 2007, against the Cubs, the Mets were getting rained on, and hard. But the game was not canceled. The Cubs refused to come back to Shea, so they were going to try their hardest to get the game in, no matter what.
The game didn't start until 10 pm, and didn't end until 1 am. I've never been in Shea that long, or that late, so it was truly something amazing. There were only a handful of people left in Shea by the time the game started, so from our seats in the mezz. the players could easily hear us.
My other moment happened this year, on FOX Fan Night. Due to my internship, I was able to work at Shea, setting up for a FOX News Channel event.
I got to Shea at noon for a 7 pm game. I was able to walk around the bleachers and take a long, hard look at the stadium, completely empty. I admit I got teary eyed then as well.
Just looking around at the completely empty, quiet stadium was just overwhelming. Most people only see it packed to the gills with fans, cheering their heads off, with the players on the field. So to see it completely empty, with only a few security guards roaming the field level, was simply unbelievable.
Thanks, Shea. You've been an amazing ballpark.
You've had some great memories inside your walls, and hopefully one more can be etched into Mets history today.
9/27/08
Wild Card only
The Phillies were able to stave off the Washington Nationals and clinched the 2008 NL East title.
Congrats to them.
Right now, the Cubs are leading the Brewers 6-3, and are threatening for more. (Thank you, Kosuke Fukudome!) If this game ends as is, it will all come down to tomorrow.
Go Cubs!
Update: Cubbies win, 7-3.
Brewers and Mets are tied atop the Wild Card standings.
Well, tomorrow will be fun.
Congrats to them.
Right now, the Cubs are leading the Brewers 6-3, and are threatening for more. (Thank you, Kosuke Fukudome!) If this game ends as is, it will all come down to tomorrow.
Go Cubs!
Update: Cubbies win, 7-3.
Brewers and Mets are tied atop the Wild Card standings.
Well, tomorrow will be fun.
Game Recap: Mets 2 -- Florida 0
Johan Santana just pitched himself into Mets history. Absolutely amazing.
As Jerry Manuel said, "If I had to explain that one...that was gangsta."
Pitching Performance
This was Johan Santana's day. He's worth every million, every dollar, every penny. I've never seen or heard Shea Stadium rock as loudly as it did today. Amazin'.
Johan Santana, coming off his career high 125 pitches on three days rest, threw one of his best games of his career, and easily of his Mets tenure. With their backs against the wall, Johan went out and threw a complete game shut out. He allowed only three hits, walked three, and struck out nine Marlins.
He was supposed to have a cap of 105 pitches, but he was so good, he had to stay in. 117 pitches later, the Mets were walking off the field victorious behind one of the best pitched games I've ever seen.
There's nothing else that needs to be said. He's the ace. He's the leader of this staff. He is amazing. Cy Young bid, I think so.
The Mets needed him, and he stepped up and filled in with the game of his life.
Offensive Output
You must tip your hat to Ricky Nolasco. Seven innings, allowing only five hits and two earned runs. He walked only one while striking out 10.
This was a pitchers duel, and one of the most exciting and tense games I've had the privilege to watch.
It didn't look like Nolasco was ready for the game to start, as the Mets were able to jump on him in the first for a run. Jose Reyes led off with a single to center. With Carlos Beltran batting, Reyes stole his 56th base of the season. Beltran then singled, moving Reyes to third. Carlos Delgado followed that with a long fly ball to center, allowing Reyes to tag and score.
Another sac-fly. How about that.
In the fourth, an unlikely source drove in the Mets second run. Daniel Murphy was hit by a pitch, bringing Ramon Martinez to the plate. Martinez then drove a double into the gap between center and right field, allowing Murphy to chug all the way around from first to score the only other Mets run.
Honestly, where did this guy come from?? He's 4-13 this year, with three doubles and three RBI. He's another diamond in the rough, and the Mets seem to have caught some more lightning in a bottle.
The Rest of the Story
A mere two hours and seventeen minutes of spectacular baseball.
At time of post, the Cubs are up 2-0 on a Daryle Ward two-run home run.
Go Cubs and Go Nationals.
Game Ball: Johan Santana. A no-doubter.
As Jerry Manuel said, "If I had to explain that one...that was gangsta."
Pitching Performance
This was Johan Santana's day. He's worth every million, every dollar, every penny. I've never seen or heard Shea Stadium rock as loudly as it did today. Amazin'.
Johan Santana, coming off his career high 125 pitches on three days rest, threw one of his best games of his career, and easily of his Mets tenure. With their backs against the wall, Johan went out and threw a complete game shut out. He allowed only three hits, walked three, and struck out nine Marlins.
He was supposed to have a cap of 105 pitches, but he was so good, he had to stay in. 117 pitches later, the Mets were walking off the field victorious behind one of the best pitched games I've ever seen.
There's nothing else that needs to be said. He's the ace. He's the leader of this staff. He is amazing. Cy Young bid, I think so.
The Mets needed him, and he stepped up and filled in with the game of his life.
Offensive Output
You must tip your hat to Ricky Nolasco. Seven innings, allowing only five hits and two earned runs. He walked only one while striking out 10.
This was a pitchers duel, and one of the most exciting and tense games I've had the privilege to watch.
It didn't look like Nolasco was ready for the game to start, as the Mets were able to jump on him in the first for a run. Jose Reyes led off with a single to center. With Carlos Beltran batting, Reyes stole his 56th base of the season. Beltran then singled, moving Reyes to third. Carlos Delgado followed that with a long fly ball to center, allowing Reyes to tag and score.
Another sac-fly. How about that.
In the fourth, an unlikely source drove in the Mets second run. Daniel Murphy was hit by a pitch, bringing Ramon Martinez to the plate. Martinez then drove a double into the gap between center and right field, allowing Murphy to chug all the way around from first to score the only other Mets run.
Honestly, where did this guy come from?? He's 4-13 this year, with three doubles and three RBI. He's another diamond in the rough, and the Mets seem to have caught some more lightning in a bottle.
The Rest of the Story
A mere two hours and seventeen minutes of spectacular baseball.
At time of post, the Cubs are up 2-0 on a Daryle Ward two-run home run.
Go Cubs and Go Nationals.
Game Ball: Johan Santana. A no-doubter.
Photo from Shea: Johan on the mound
Shea Stadium, with Johan Santana on the mound. The place is electric..jpg)
Thanks to Doug Helferich for sending these photos today. A true Mets fan. He flew up from Duke University to attend his final game at Shea.
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Thanks to Doug Helferich for sending these photos today. A true Mets fan. He flew up from Duke University to attend his final game at Shea.
Daniel Murphy's walk up song
So I've seen hundreds of hits come to my site looking for Daniel Murphy's walk up song.
When he comes up, they usually play the Dropkick Murphy's - Shipping up to Boston. You probably know it from The Departed.
Also, I've heard him walk up to Linkin Park's - What I've Done.
Enjoy.
When he comes up, they usually play the Dropkick Murphy's - Shipping up to Boston. You probably know it from The Departed.
Also, I've heard him walk up to Linkin Park's - What I've Done.
Enjoy.
Follow my Twitter
I'm Twittering my thoughts on the game today.
Visit twitter.com/theropolitans to follow my thoughts on the game and the team.
Visit twitter.com/theropolitans to follow my thoughts on the game and the team.
Weather at Shea
One of my good friends is at the game today, and the weather looks absolutely miserable.
The game has been delayed at least ten minutes, with first pitch scheduled for 1:25, but that seems like some wishful thinking.
Update: Now the start time is 1:45 pm.
Expect this game to get delayed early and often.
The game has been delayed at least ten minutes, with first pitch scheduled for 1:25, but that seems like some wishful thinking.Update: Now the start time is 1:45 pm.
Expect this game to get delayed early and often.
Johan Santana on three days rest
The numbers don't look good.
Johan Santana will throw today, only three days after throwing 125 pitches in his last start.
Here are Johan's career numbers starting on three days rest:
3 games, 1-1, 14.2 IP, 6.14 ERA. 15 hits, 10 ER, 5 HR, 5 BB, 13 K.
Well...that's not great.
I have to agree with Jerry Manuel's decision here. You have to win today, otherwise tomorrow is your last ditch effort to save the season. This may end up a moot point, as the weather might limit Johan's start.
Say they get in three or four innings before the rains really come down, and there is a lengthy delay. I doubt Johan would be able to come back out after anything over an hour, so the weather may be on his side, or against him, depending which way you look at it.
It's practically do or die time for the Mets, and they need a little help to get there. As Tug always said, "Ya gotta believe!"
Johan Santana will throw today, only three days after throwing 125 pitches in his last start.
Here are Johan's career numbers starting on three days rest:
3 games, 1-1, 14.2 IP, 6.14 ERA. 15 hits, 10 ER, 5 HR, 5 BB, 13 K.
Well...that's not great.
I have to agree with Jerry Manuel's decision here. You have to win today, otherwise tomorrow is your last ditch effort to save the season. This may end up a moot point, as the weather might limit Johan's start.
Say they get in three or four innings before the rains really come down, and there is a lengthy delay. I doubt Johan would be able to come back out after anything over an hour, so the weather may be on his side, or against him, depending which way you look at it.
It's practically do or die time for the Mets, and they need a little help to get there. As Tug always said, "Ya gotta believe!"
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